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OK, this might not be received well, but that little disclaimer about "I really don't tolerate ignorance very well" seems odd in the context of the question. As others have mentioned, to imagine that racism doesn't still exist _everywhere_ is, I have to say, is in and of itself ignorant.

That said, I would agree with others in that in general Austinites are generally not overtly racist. Of course a lot depends on what part of town you're in which will determine exactly which group is being racist and which group is the target of their racism.

And JayBrown, it does matter if 20000 people in Texas (i.e. not in Austin) are racist if you ever plan on exploring outside of Austin, who wants to live in a city where you don't feel comfortable leaving the city? Do you really want to feel stressed if you have to stop for gas in some small town on the way to Enchanted Rock or some other close but outside any city limits destination.

not really, b/c racism exists in rural areas everywhere. If the OP is the type of person that doesnt' want to ever experience racism, then she already avoids non urban areas. The rural parts of Maine, New York and Washington are just as intolerant and racist as the rule parts of Texas. This is not a texas issue. It's a rural issue.

not really, b/c racism exists in rural areas everywhere. If the OP is the type of person that doesnt' want to ever experience racism, then she already avoids non urban areas. The rural parts of Maine, New York and Washington are just as intolerant and racist as the rule parts of Texas. This is not a texas issue. It's a rural issue.

I think you missed my point. I never claimed that other rural areas didn't have racism (I would have thought that obvious by my very first statement that said that racism existed _everywhere_). Rather, that your statement implied that it was "ok" if there were racist folks in Tx if they were primarily not in Austin proper. I was just commenting that it did matter even if that, admittedly hypothetical, statement was true. It's not a Tx issue, it's not even a rural issue, it's a people issue, which is why it's everywhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asena

You will find racism where ever you go,as long as you look for it.

Unfortunately sometimes it finds you even if you're not looking for it. And you can probably replace "sometimes" with "inevitably". Though I do agree that many actively seek it out and are therefore more likely to run into it.

I think you missed my point. I never claimed that other rural areas didn't have racism (I would have thought that obvious by my very first statement that said that racism existed _everywhere_). Rather, that your statement implied that it was "ok" if there were racist folks in Tx if they were primarily not in Austin proper. I was just commenting that it did matter even if that, admittedly hypothetical, statement was true. It's not a Tx issue, it's not even a rural issue, it's a people issue, which is why it's everywhere.

Unfortunately sometimes it finds you even if you're not looking for it. And you can probably replace "sometimes" with "inevitably". Though I do agree that many actively seek it out and are therefore more likely to run into it.

Sigh. There is no point in arguing semantics with you, when we basically agree. I in no way said that racism was okay amongst rural people. It was not implied or explicit. In anyway. Whatsoever. *rolls eyes*

We both agree racism exists. We both agree is is less apparent in urban areas. I am working from the assumption that the OP is not going to venture far from Austin anyway, you are not. Potato, Puh-tato. Whatever. If the OP is so irritated by racism, she probably doesn't venture far from the city she currently lives in.

But thank you so much for claifying the point that racism is bad. You are right, most people don't know that, and we need you to point it out to us.

Sigh. There is no point in arguing semantics with you, when we basically agree. I in no way said that racism was okay amongst rural people. It was not implied or explicit. In anyway. Whatsoever. *rolls eyes*

We both agree racism exists. We both agree is is less apparent in urban areas. I am working from the assumption that the OP is not going to venture far from Austin anyway, you are not. Potato, Puh-tato. Whatever. If the OP is so irritated by racism, she probably doesn't venture far from the city she currently lives in.

But thank you so much for claifying the point that racism is bad. You are right, most people don't know that, and we need you to point it out to us.

Well condescension aside, _you_ did ask:

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBrown80

If you live in Austin does it matter if 20,000 people in Texas are racist?

All I did was answer and say "yes, it does matter".

And yes, even though I did quote "ok", I should have used the phrase "that it didn't matter" since "ok" could imply that you were condoning it and it was obvious by your post that you were not.

Racism exists in the mind and is therefore propagated through human beings and their resultant thoughts and behaviors. There is no place safe from the vice grip of ignorance. Racism is dumb and there are dumb people everywhere.

As most people have already mentioned here, the sad fact of the matter is that you'll find small-mindedness wherever you go. I understand that many people think that Texas is full of racists; sadly, in a handful of places, they may be right. But Austin is not one of those places. Overall, people are pretty chill and accepting of most kinds of people. I can't speak for the occasional bigot you might run into, but you'll find those types everywhere. Austin's about as open a city as any you're likely to go.

Not really. There are people who like to play the "race" card rather than taking personal responsibility and they tend to look for, and see, racism not only where it actually exists but everywhere that they don't get their own way 24/7 or whenever they're called on things that have nothing whatsoever to do with race - it's their excuse for anything not going their way. So, if referring to those spec ific people, and I took it that way, not such an idiotic statement at all.

Not really. There are people who like to play the "race" card rather than taking personal responsibility and they tend to look for, and see, racism not only where it actually exists but everywhere that they don't get their own way 24/7 or whenever they're called on things that have nothing whatsoever to do with race - it's their excuse for anything not going their way. So, if referring to those spec ific people, and I took it that way, not such an idiotic statement at all.

While there are people like that, statements like asena's trivialize what it is like to live day to day as a minority and that can be anyone who doesn't fit the stat quo: transgendered, Black, disabled, Mexican, butch les, fat. Like the poster before me stated, it is without a doubt you will be treated differently and that is whether you go 'looking' for it or not. And if people have to live with the threat of being treated less than everyday, of course some are going to be hypersenstive about being mistreated. And if someone hasn't been in those shoes, it's really not their place to tell someone else who lives it everyday that you are looking for it. No one gets up looking for that bull.

Anyhoo, I was wondering about this myself. I am a mixed race female from Indianapolis who was thinking about making the move to Austin.

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